mine doesnt pop out of gear, just sometimes it doesnt want to go into 1st

 

ill mention it to the dealer and maybe they will know what to do. i mentioned it before and the guy said i need a new clutch… but i know i dont, it doesnt slip it just doesnt want to go into first sometimes, i have to put it into second and then into first and it goes in fine. my dads 02 BMW 525 (5-speed) 182XXX kilometers on it he just replaced the clutch.

 

Clutch not disengaging fully can cause difficulty putting it into first, but so can a shifter cable that is not adjusted properly. There is a simple procedure for doing that adjustment which the dealer should do first. Sometimes mine will be difficult to get into first and all I do is move it to second/third and then back to first & it's good to go. I have not had mine jump out of gear unless I didn't have it all the way into gear in the first place!

I have had cable actuated clutches fail because of the cable, hyraulic ones fail because of the slave cylinder, clutch plates fail because of a mainseal failing which gets oil on the plates. If someone rides the clutch pedal, then the plates will get burned (the smell) and then you start getting a grabby feel when you engage the plates and not the normal smoothness. I have had clutches fail because of weak springs. When the clutch slips, you'll notice the rpm's going up without the usual increase in vehicle speed as you are not transferring all the rotation of the crankshaft through to the drive train. Slip it, burn it, replace it is how it goes. Heat can warp flywheels. Too much HP can cause your clutch to slip also. From how you describe it, I don't think it's your clutch as that would have nothing to do with it slipping out of gear. You have an adjustment issue in your shifter or an internal tranny problem IMHO. Hope you get to the bottom of it without too much $$$.

 

Once the clutch starts slipping it degrades very quickly. At the early stages its detectable by putting the car in 4th, at a relatively low speed, and nailing it. I've driven manual transmission cars for many years, the only time I have ever had to replace a clutch, was on a 70's pontiac because the clutch cable bound up and wouldn't allow the clutch to full engage. Driven correctly, and barring mechanical failure, the clutch should last well over 100,000 miles.

 

As long as it doesnt pop out of gear while the clutch is OUT, you should be just fine.

The HHR is the first Auto trans I've ever had, but my experience with 4 and 5-speeds manuals is that on a lot of them, first gear can be a bit fussy to engage. And with some of them, I'd double-clutch as I grabbed first gear which would get around the problem. But yeah, it can also be an indicator of a problem with the slave cylinder.

 

As per my prev post - I've had similar situations with other manuals - either double-clutching going into first, or doing that SECOND then FIRST shift, did the trick for me for many many miles (slave cyl and clutch never replaced).

 

I would go with the shifter cable being screwed up, if I remember correctly a few people had issues where the stay brace had broke and allowed the cable to move a little. But I own an auto and can't say for sure.

 

If its popping out of gears then you have a damaged internal part (synchros), time for a rebuilds. As for the clutch, if I recall it has a hydraulic clutch master? if So a simple bleed would improve the "feel".

Sounds like you need a full rebuild so the clutch will be replaced at the same time.

 

Well it's going in to my mechanic tomorrow for a once over.

In 5th at 70 if i nail it, I'm getting very noticeable slipping. 8.1 hours in labor just to do the clutch replacement if I end up needing one

 

Hope it works out for you the first time they work on it. Let us know what the issue was when they fix it.